Shade cornice



March 12, 1968 FIG. 1

E. E. SCHAEFER SHADE CORNICE Filed Dec. I87

43 INVENTOR.

Edward E. Schoefer Arforneys United States Patent Office 3,372,728Patented Mar. 12, 1968 3,372,723 dHADE CQRNECE Edward E. Schaefer,Winnetka, Ill, assignor to Central Specialties (30., Chicago, Ill., acorporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 515,969 3 Claims.(Cl. 160-39) AliSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A window shade cornice whichgenerally includes a pair of brackets and a cornice body portion whichis formed of two end sections that are slidably retained within a centersection so as to be adjustable in width. Preferably the cornice bodyportion is fabricated of a plastic which is flexible, to some degree,however, it also may be fabricated of wood or metal. The window shadecornice is easily installed by first mounting the two brackets and thenassembling the cornice body portion and adjusting the width of it to fitbetween the brackets. In packaging the window shade cornices, thesections of the cornice body portion are disassembled and the completecornice can therefore be packaged in a relatively small package whichmay be easily shipped and stored.

This invention relates to windows shade cornices and more-particularlyto adjustable window shade cornices which can be quickly and easilyinstalled without need of cutting them to fit.

Most window casings and the like are constructed to a particularstandard, however, the tolerances maintained are usually not too exact.Presently available cornices are therefore generally constructedoversize to compensate for the tolerance variations and, in most cases,must be cut to the proper width for a particular application. Thesecornices therefore require considerable effort to install them and,furthermore, generally have to be painted, or touched-up with paint tocover exposed edges which result from cutting them. Presently availablecornices also present considerable shipping and storage problems sincethey are formed to the standard window sizes and are thereforerelatively dimcult to package and to store because of their lengths.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provideimproved window shade cornices. In this respect, it is contemplated thatthe window shade cornices be adaptable to various size, in width,windows without the necessity of cutting them to fit.

A further object is to provide window shade cornices which can bequickly and easily installed, with only a screwdriver, for example.

Still another object is to provide window shade cornices which greatlysimplifies the packaging, the shipping and the storing of them.

Another object is to provide improved window shade cornices which areadapted to support window shades, curtain rod holders and the like.

Still another object is to provide improved window shade cornices whichare easily and relatively inexpensively manufactured.

A still further object is to provide improved window shade corniceswhich are constructed so that various portions thereof are complimentaryto permit their use as different elements of different size ordimensioned cornices, thereby reducing substantially the inventoryrequired to maintain an inventory of different size or dimensionedcornices.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The above objectives are accomplished with a window shade cornice whichgenerally includes a pair of brackets and a cornice body portion whichis formed of two end sections that are slidably retained within a centersection so as to be adjustable in width. Preferably the cornice bodyportion is fabricated of a plastic which is flexible, to some degree,however, it also may be fabricated of wood or metal. The window shadecornice is easily installed by first mounting the two brackets and thenas sembling the cornice body portion and adjusting the width of it tofit between the brackets. In packaging the window shade cornices, thesections of the cornice body portion are disassembled and the completecornice can therefore be packaged in a relatively small package whichmay be easily shipped and stored.

The invention accordingly compsises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a Window shade cornice exemplary of the invention,mounted on the outside of a window case which is partially shown;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a cornice end section illustrating themanner in which it is retained within a cornice bracket;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the method of installing the cornice;

FIG. 4 is an end View of the cornice;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3', after theinstallation is completed, illustrating a cornice end section as it isretained Within a cornice bracket, and having a window shade rollerdiagrammatically illustrated to show the manner in which it is concealedand retained within the window shade cornice; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the cornice brackets.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 a window shade cornice iiiexemplary of the present invention is illustrated installed on theoutside of the window cases 12 of a window 14. The cornice Ill includesa pair of brackets 16 and 17, and a cornice body portion 18 which isformed of two cornice end sections 2% and 22 and a cornice centersection 21. The cornice end sections 26 and 22 are adapted to slidablyfit within the cornice center section 21 and within the brackets 16 and17 so that the three sections Ztl-ZZ can be assembled and slidablyadjusted to fit in the brackets 16 and 17. In FIG. 1, it can be seenthat with this construction an attractive cornice which is easilyadaptable to fit any size window casing, Within limits, without cutting,is provided.

More particularly, the cornice 10 includes a cornice body portion 13which has a cornice center section 21 and two cornice end sections 2tand 22 which are formed to slidably fit within the center section 21.The cornice end sections 20 and 22 and the cornice center section 21 areall preferably formed of a flexible, light weight plastic so as toprovide the numerous advantageous features hereinafter described. Ifdesired, however, these sections can be formed of substantially any typeof material such as metal, or wood and, in such cases, many of itsadvantageous features are still provided.

In FIG. 2, the cross-section of One of the cornice end sections 2% and22 is shown and it can be seen that the end sections are substantiallyL-shaped in construction having legs 24 and 25. The end 27 of the leg 24is bent downwardly at a right angle so as to form a support surface 28which abuts against a back end wall 30 of one of the brackets 16 or 17.A lower portion 31 of the leg 25 is arcuately bent, in a concavefashion, to provide both an attractive appearance and rigidity to theend sections. Also, the end of the leg 25 is bent, backwardly in a Ushaped fashion, to provide a tongue or rail 32 which 18 slidable intoand retained within a correspondingly shaped groove 34 formed in thebrackets 16 and 17.

The cornice center section 21 is of a like construction but sufficientlylarger in size so that the end section 20 and 22 are siidably receivabletherein. In manufacture, the center section 21 and the end sections 20and 22 are fabricated in several sizes, and in a manner such that theend sections become the center section and vice versa for thedifferently dimensioned cornices. In this fashion, the inventory ofdifferent size cornices can be substantially reduced since it isunnecessary to stock complete cornices of all of the different sizes.

The brackets 16 and 17 are of like construction and are mirror images ofone another so as to form brackets for the left and right sides,respectively, for the cornice 10. Also, the bracket for the left side ofthe cornice, in this case bracket 16, has a window shade retainingbracket 36 (FIG. 6) with a notch cut-out 37 therein for the spring end(not shown) of a window shade roller. Correspondingly, the bracket forthe right side of the cornice, in this case bracket 17, has a windowshade retaining bracket 40 (FIG. 2) with a round hole 41 for the roundpin end (not shown) of a window shade roller. The brackets 16 and 17therefore are adapted to retain all types of window 'shade rollers ofstandard construction.

As can be best seen in FIGS. and 6, the brackets 16 and 17 are ofsubstantially box-like construction having an end Wall 43, a front wall44, a top wall 45 and a back wall 30. The bottom of the brackets areopen, to permit easy installation of a window shade roller. The backwall 30 of the brackets have a number of apertures 47 therein forreceiving fastening means such as threaded screws for securing thebrackets to the outside of a window casing, as illustrated in FIG. 1.The end wall 43 and the top wall 45 of the brackets also both have anumber of apertures 48 and 49 formed therein, respectively, forreceiving fastening means for securing the brackets between 'windowstops, to either the sides or tops thereof so that the cornice can beinstalled either between the window stops or on the outside windowcasing, or alternatively, directly to the ceiling. The front wall 44 ofthe brackets 16 and 17 are each correspondingly shaped like the frontleg or wall of the end sections 20 and 22, having an arcuately bentportion 51 and a reversely bent end forming a U-shaped groove 34. Asupport 53 for the leg 24 of the end section 20 or 22 is formed in theend walls 43 of the brackets 16 and 17 by punching and bending inwardlya small U-shaped tab which engages the underside of the leg 24 andsupports it, when assembled.

To install the cornice 10, the brackets 16 and 17 are secured byfastening means extended through the apertures 47, or 49, to either awindow casing, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or between the window stops. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the end sections 20 and 22 are slidingly insertedinto the center section 21 until the width of the three sections issmaller than the width between the brackets 16 and 17. In doing so, thetongues or rails 32 on the end sections are slidingly engaged in thegrooves 34 on the brackets 16 and 17, and the ends of the legs 24adjusted to slide between the underside of the top walls and the topsideof the supports 53, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. For bestappearance, the center section 21 should be adjusted so that the endsections extend equal distances beyond its ends. It may be noted thatthe installation may be accomplished using only a screwdriver to fastenthe brackets 16 and 17 and that the cornice may be fitted to any windowwithout having to cut it to proper size before hand. A further advantageof this latter feature is "that the brackets 16 and 17 may be installedindependently of the rest of the cornice so that the fastening means canbe easily installed without hinderance by the balance of the cornice.Furthermore, the major portion, sections 2022, can be easily removed forcleaning merelyby sliding the end sections 2i) and 22 into the centersection 21 and removing them from the brackets 16 and 17. It thereforeis unnecessary to remove the brackets 16 and 1'7, as required with mostpresently available cornices. The ends of a window shade roller 55 arenext inserted within the window shade roller brackets 16 and 17. Thefront walls of the sections 2t 22, as can be seen in FIG. 5, conceal thewindow shade roller and provide an attractively appearing cornice.

The cornice end and center sections 2ti22, as previously indicated, canbe advantageously fabricated of a plastic material and, in such a case,the plastic can be various colors so that painting is unnecessary. Inthis respect, another advantageous feature of the cornice 10 is that theend sections need not be painted or touched up with paint to cover bareedges which result from cutting the cornice to the proper width, as itis generally necessary to do with the presently available cornices.

Also, if fabricated of a flexible plastic, installation and assembly isfurther simplified since the design of the end sections 20 and 22 andthe center section 21 is such that the sections 20-22 can be snap-fittedtogether. This feature eliminates the need of slidingly fitting the endsections 20 and 22 into the center section 21 during assembly, as it isgenerally necessary to do if the sections 20- 22 are of a non-flexibletype of material or constnuction.

Still another feature and advantage of the cornices of the presentinvention lies in the greater ability to package and to store or shipthem. Being fabricated in sections, the overall length of the cornicescan be virtually cut in thirds by separating the end sections 20 and 22and the center section 21. A shipping or packing carton which is nolonger in length than the longest one of these three sections only needbe used. The advantage of this feature is apparent. In the case of acornice 36 inches in width, normally a shipping or packing carton whichis at least 36 inches long is required. With the cornice of the presentinvention, the length of the carton can be reduced to approximately16-18 inches. Also, since the cartons are substantially smaller inlength, they can be stored much more easily.

The brackets 16 and. 17 may also have curtain rod brackets and 61afiixed thereto, respectively, or a universal type bracket (not shown)can be affixed to them so that virtually any type of window covering,such as a window shade or curtains of various types, can be removablysupported within the cornice 117. Also, the width of the cornice 10 canbe expanded by adding pieces or by lengthening the extrusion. In theformer case, it may be noted that additional center sections 21 can beafiixed to the end sections 20 and 22 and still another end section 20or 22 afiixed to the added center section, to lengthen the cornice 10.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent 1. A window shade cornicecomprising, in combination: a cornice body portion having a centersection and a pair of end sections slidably retained Within said centersection so as to be adjustable in width, a pair of brackets rflcfiiviflgand retain g e respective ones of the ends of said pair of end sections,said end sections each being substantially L-shaped in constructionhaving the end of its one leg folded to form a support and having theend of its other leg folded to form rail means which is slidablyretained Within a correspondingly shaped groove in said brackets, saidleg also having an arcuately shaped recess therein to provide anattractive appearance and rigidity to said end section, said cornicecenter section being of a like configuration and of such dimension so asto slidably receive said end sections therein, said brackets each beingsubstantially of box-like construction having a front wall, a top wall,a back wall and an end Wall, said front wall having a configurationcorresponding to said end sections and said back Wall and said end wallhaving a plurality of apertures therein for fastener means for securingsaid brackets to a window casing and between Window stops, respectively,a support tab formed in said end wall for supporting one leg of said endsections.

2. A window shade cornice, as claimed in claim 1. wherein each of saidbrackets includes respective ones of a pair of Window shade retainingbrackets.

3. A Window shade cornice, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said endsections and said center sections are fabricated of a material havingsuflicient flexibility to permit said section to be snap fitted to oneanother for rapid assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 598,409 2/1898 Bliss et al 160-391,713,666 5/1929 Lasell 160-39 1,727,528 9/1929 Truemper 160-39 X3,138,195 6/1964 COX 160-39 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. I.KARL BELL, Assistant Examiner.

